Lounge a big help for momsMUSC facility at Citadel Mall gives nursing mothers a comfy place to feed babies By Jill Coley (Contact)
The Post and Courier
Friday, September 5, 2008
Grace Beahm Brittan Gotbeter feeds her son West as son Thomas, 3, entertains himself in the new Nursing Lounge at Citadel Mall in West Ashley. Previous storyPower of moms moves through halls of Legislature; Their rallying cry for breast-feeding rights: It's all about the babies, published 02/26/06 Less than an hour after the nursing mothers' lounge opened Thursday at Citadel Mall, Dana Keith made a beeline toward the cozy room with her 5-month-old baby and 2-year-old in tow. Keith and her husband were visiting Charleston from Port Royal when they saw the sign outside the mall announcing the new lounge. She hadn't seen such a lounge since their recent move from Colorado. "People are a little rude. They stare," she said. "But it's what you should be doing." Giving women an alternative to the bathroom and the stares is the purpose of the Medical University of South Carolina's Women's Services Nursing Mothers' Lounge, located in the mall's food court. It's the Women's Services first lounge in the community but probably not its last, said Jean Rhodes, manager of MUSC's Lactation Clinic. In 2005, Roper St. Francis Healthcare and Belk joined forces to open four mothers' lounges at area Belk department stores, including the one at Citadel Mall. More than two years have passed since South Carolina passed a law guaranteeing women the right to nursetheir children in public without interference from business owners or law enforcement. "We have been seeing an improvement already," said Lin Cook, co-chair of the South Carolina Breast-feeding Coalition. The percentage of women breast-feeding has increased among tri-county women participating in the Women, Infants, and Children program, Cook said. WIC offers supplemental food and health care for low-income women who are pregnant and with children up to age 5. In 2006 and 2007, 35 percent, or 2,350 women, said they nursed. The following year, that percentage rose to 40 percent, or 2,834 women. The coalition is forging ahead with more legislation, this time focusing on employers. The proposed law would require that employers with more than 25 employees have a written policy supporting women who want to continue breast-feeding when returning to work. The law would also mandate that a space be provided that is not a bathroom for women who need to use a breast pump at work. More than 50 percent of adult women are in the workforce, Cook said. And 75 percent of working women become pregnant during their working lives. Studies have shown the benefits of breast-feeding for mother and baby. Nursing may reduce a woman's risk of breast cancer and osteoporosis. Babies who nurse have higher IQs, fewer allergies and are less likely to be obese or suffer diabetes. Lee Bruner, 29, knows the inconvenience of timing her life around a breast pump. Recently, the Johns Island mother was stuck at the Richmond, Va., airport during a flight delay. She had to explain to an airport employee that she didn't have a baby to help her with relief. Born prematurely, he was in the hospital. But she could not allow her milk to dry up. The bathrooms were no good, she said, so she was directed to a customs interrogation room with no chairs. She spread out on the floor with her supplies. "I know if I wanted to nurse somewhere it's a process," she said. "It's not breast-feeding-friendly in a lot of places." Reach Jill Coley at 937-5719 or jcoley@post andcourier.com. |
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Comments
This article has 16 comment(s)
Posted by oldglory on September 5, 2008 at 8:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Only install it if you want to be #1 with your employees! :)
Posted by TripleTasked on September 5, 2008 at 8:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Wow, Coldbeer- how... barbaric. Heaven forbid that a small room be created in businesses so mothers can provide the best nutrition possible. How would you like to eat in a public restroom? Or prepare your child's food in one?
Posted by drp7773 on September 5, 2008 at 8:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Yeah CB how barbaric, I mean why should these women show some restraints and take care of this before they leave home like umm all the millions of moms did for how many years. I mean they need another way to spoil these kids even more geez what is wrong with you my my my. and now you will know where all the teens are when you finish your shopping :)
Posted by coolfreaknbeans on September 5, 2008 at 9:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)
drp7773-I understand the point you are trying to make.But your wrong.Many years ago women breastfed everywhere without many problems.Now people look at woman as if theyre sickos or something.Yet people walk around with their underwear showing and half naked bodies in the name of "fashion" and thats fine.The rooms don't need to be spa quality.Just a small space with a chair.I find it repulsive people tell women to do it in a restroom.Thats disgusting!What should they sit on a piss filled public toilet to feed their infant?Would you eat your lunch while sitting on a public toilet?
Posted by TripleTasked on September 5, 2008 at 9:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)
drp7773- that's right, I forgot, they should stay locked in their homes because of feeding times that run about an hour apart, which makes it difficult to run out and get things done. I'm sure their husbands would be happy (after they get home from work) to go to the grocery, the drug store, pick up the drycleaning, take/pick-up the other kids to/from school, the list goes on... if they even have a spouse! Or maybe, because I'm sure all can afford it, they should just pay someone to run all the errands for them? Oh! Or have everything delivered, b/c I'm sure that every store will do that. A second thought- feeding a child is "spoiling it?" I mean, wow.
Coldbeer- "Women have been raising babies..."
Sure they have. But these women are now responsible for more than ever; households, jobs, school, etc. With increased equality and the level of multitasking required to make the modern family function, I think we, as a society, are being ignorant to think we don't have to accomodate each other. No, the world doesn't end b/c someone has a baby. But if a little room in a public place/business makes it easier to prevent devastating health conditions (thru breastmilk- the benefits are numerous and backed by science) by making more women feel they have more options to nurse/pump while tending to VERY busy lives, then what's the big deal?
Posted by bullygirl on September 5, 2008 at 10:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Well said, Triple Tasked! People should remember that years ago there weren't as many working moms as there are today. Sure dads can stay home with the babies, but they can't breast feed them....only if the mom pumps they can. Also, it's hard for some women to go for a long time with out pumping, their breast will swell and make it more difficult to breast feed their babies, so most do need to pump at work.
To James....my husband would love the oreo idea!
Posted by walleyedwoman1215 on September 5, 2008 at 11 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I support any option that prevents breast-feeding in the general population :-) A woman visiting my former workplace sat down in a lobby chair, pulled up her shirt and the kid latched on. Customers were coming and going and it rattled everyone. You could see the entire breast. I was shocked and my employer, a 65 YO male, almost had a stroke.
Posted by SPEAKTHETRUTH on September 5, 2008 at 1:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Breastfeeding in public does not always involve whipping out a breast and exposing it to everyone before the baby latches on. Some women are very discrete about it. Most people (who aren't noisy), don't even realize what is going on.
A room is a great idea. I have used the one at Northwoods and it is so convenient. I applaud them for adding one to Citadel.
Posted by walleyedwoman1215 on September 5, 2008 at 1:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Posted by ColdBeer on September 5, 2008 at 11:18 a.m.
If we, as a society, made it the norm that all women were to walk around topless at all times (except for my wife), this would not even be an issue.
LOL! CB, I'm starting to think you're my husband!!
Posted by SpiderJohn on September 5, 2008 at 3:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Good Grief! Are you men from the stone age? I know plenty of women that would take offense with your posts.
Posted by Lovely_One on September 5, 2008 at 3:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I love the room idea. This is wonderful for those women that know how it feels to have your "girls" become engorged with milk because it's feeding time and you have no where to go. I personally would take a huge blanket with me wherever I went and made sure I was covered up and no one would be able to see my good while I was giving my babies the nutrition.
Also, to those who suggest pumping, that is not always a good thing. Pumping can cause the mother's milk to dry up quicker because it is the baby's tongue that stimulates the production of the milk more than anything else.
Posted by SpiderJohn on September 5, 2008 at 3:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
excellent post lovely
Posted by Lovely_One on September 5, 2008 at 3:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Thanks, SJ. I speak from MUCH experience.
Posted by walleyedwoman1215 on September 5, 2008 at 4:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I apologize if any nursing mother was offended by my post. I have never had children so am clueless on the nursing thing. All I can tell you is that it mortifies me to see it done in public, I'm willing to admit I may be weird/repressed/have oral issues, etc. And yes, I WAS a bottle baby:-)
Posted by Lovely_One on September 5, 2008 at 4:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)
walleyed,
Your post was in no way offensive. I personally don't want to see another woman's boobs and don't want anyone to see mine. That is the reason I make it a point to cover myself while feeding my baby. I know that people still know what I am doing, but I am not exposed for them to actually see me. I do all I can to keep from giving 65 year old men strokes...;-) Lol!
Posted by greensummervillian on September 6, 2008 at 9:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Bravo to Citadel Mall for accomodating breastfeeding mothers!